Ayeni is alleged to have fathered a child, a baby girl, with Adaobi, a claim he has denied.

Nigerian businessman and former chairman of defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni has reacted to the paternity tussle involving him and a female lawyer in Abuja identified as Adaobi Alagwu.

Ayeni is alleged to have fathered a child, a baby girl, with Adaobi, a claim he has denied.

Ayeni in a statement he personally signed confirmed he was in relationship with the lawyer but it ended in 2019.

According to him, the issue of the baby, which attracted media attention “is being resolved and will be resolved in due course”.

The statement read, “Ordinarily, the recent series of media reports linking my name with a lady, Adaobi Alagwu, should not deserve a response from me since the section of the media that is feasting on the issue seems to be uninterested in fact finding, but mere sensationalism.

“But given the possibility of even some discerning readers placing some values by the story, this short clarification and disclaimer becomes necessary.

“I wish to state that, indeed, Ms Adaobi Alagwu and I had a relationship, which has since ended and, as well-meaning Nigerians can imagine, it was a mistake that has caused my family much pain which I regret and do not wish to continue reliving as a section of the media continues to make me do.

“As a reputable businessman, industrialist and corporate player, I have no time for frivolous and sensational stories and should not be distracted by such publications. I have since put the relationship behind me.

“The issue of the baby, which has attracted much media mentions, is one that is being resolved and will be resolved in due course but whichever way it is resolved, will never mean a rekindling of the ended relationship between myself and Ms Alagwu.

“I sincerely wish that the media will, with this statement of mine desist from any further maligning of my person, my family and all that I represent in the society.”

Recently, SaharaReporters reported how some lawless policemen acting on the orders of Adaobi arrested and subsequent detained the Editor and a reporter of TheNewsGuru.com, Ediri Oyibo and Paul Utebor.

It was gathered that the journalists were arrested by the officers from Nigeria Police Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday, February 22 following a petition by Adaobi.

She was said to have accused them of publishing a story, which she described to be defamatory, regarding the paternity of her child with the Nigerian businessman.